Generating device for wheel rim

ABSTRACT

A generating device includes a wheel rim, a coil unit mounted on the wheel rim, a rotor mounted in the coil unit, an impeller structure mounted on an end of the rotor to rotate therewith, and a plurality of light emitting members each mounted on the wheel rim and each electrically connected to the coil unit. Thus, the rotor and the impeller structure are co-axial with the wheel rim, so that the rotor and the impeller structure are rotated rigidly and stably without producing an eccentric effect, thereby enhancing the generating effect of the generating device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a generating device, and moreparticularly to a generating device for a wheel rim.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional generating device for a wheel rim 4 in accordance withthe prior art shown in FIGS. 5-8 comprises a coil unit 3 mounted on thewheel rim 4, a rotor 2 mounted in the coil unit 3, an eccentric block 1mounted on the rotor 2 by a bearing 10, and a plurality of lightemitting members 40 each mounted on the wheel rim 4 and eachelectrically connected to the coil unit 3.

In operation, when the wheeled vehicle (not shown) is moved, the wheelrim 4 is rotated by rotation of the tire (not shown), so that the coilunit 3 is rotated with the wheel rim 4 synchronously, while the rotor 2and the eccentric block 1 are driven to rotate in an eccentric manner.At this time, the rotor 2 and the eccentric block 1 are notsynchronously rotated with the wheel rim 4 due to the eccentric effect,thereby producing a velocity differential between the coil unit 3 andthe rotor 2. Thus, the coil unit 3 and the rotor 2 are rotated atdifferent velocities, so that the coil unit 3 produces a magneticvariation by the magnetic shearing effect between the coil unit 3 andthe rotor 2 to provide a generating effect so as to provide the electricpower to the light emitting members 40, thereby achieving the lightemitting effect.

However, the rotor 2 and the eccentric block 1 are rotated in aneccentric manner, so that the generating effect is not produced stably,thereby decreasing the generating efficiency of the conventionalgenerating device. In addition, the weight of the wheel rim 4 is notbalanced due to provision of the eccentric block 1, so that rotation ofthe wheel rim 4 is disposed at an unstable state, thereby affectingmovement of the wheeled vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide agenerating device for a wheel rim.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a generatingdevice, wherein the rotor and the impeller structure are co-axial withthe wheel rim, so that the rotor and the impeller structure are rotatedrigidly and stably.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a generatingdevice, wherein the rotor and the impeller structure are rotated rigidlyand stably without producing an eccentric effect, thereby enhancing thegenerating effect of the generating device.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a generatingdevice, comprising:

-   -   a wheel rim;    -   a coil unit mounted on the wheel rim;    -   a rotor mounted in the coil unit; and    -   an impeller structure mounted on an end of the rotor to rotate        therewith.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a generating device inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan assembly view of the generating device as shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a partially side plan cross-sectional view of the generatingdevice as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the generatingdevice as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional generatingdevice in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 6 is a plan assembly view of the conventional generating device asshown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially side plan cross-sectional view of the conventionalgenerating device as shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view of the conventionalgenerating device as shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a generating device for a wheel rim 6 inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a coil unit 5 mounted on the wheel rim 6, a rotor 7 mounted inthe coil unit 5, and an impeller structure 8 mounted on an end of therotor 7 to rotate therewith and provided with a plurality of blades 80.

The coil unit 5 is fixedly mounted on a central portion of the wheel rim6 as shown in FIG. 2. The blades 80 of the impeller structure 8 arearranged in a radiating manner. Each of the blades 80 of the impellerstructure 8 is substantially arc-shaped, and has a distal end formedwith a wind shear edge 81. In addition, the rotor 7 and the impellerstructure 8 are co-axial with the wheel rim 6.

The generating device further comprises a plurality of light emittingmembers 60 each mounted on the wheel rim 6 and each electricallyconnected to the coil unit 5.

In operation, when the wheeled vehicle (not shown) is moved, the wheelrim 6 is rotated by rotation of the tire (not shown), so that the coilunit 5 is rotated with the wheel rim 6 synchronously, while the rotor 7and the impeller structure 8 are driven to rotate by the coil unit 5. Atthis time, the rotor 7 and the impeller structure 8 are not rotated withthe wheel rim 6 synchronously due to an eddy resistance effect of a windpower, thereby producing a velocity differential between the coil unit 5and the rotor 7.

Thus, the coil unit 5 and the rotor 7 are rotated at differentvelocities, so that the coil unit 5 produces a magnetic variation by themagnetic shearing effect between the coil unit 5 and the rotor 7 toprovide a smooth and stable generating effect so as to provide theelectric power to the light emitting members 60, thereby achieving thelight emitting effect.

In addition, the wheel rim 6 is available for a wheeled vehicle, such asthe car, motorcycle, bicycle or the like.

Accordingly, the rotor 7 and the impeller structure 8 are co-axial withthe wheel rim 6, so that the rotor 7 and the impeller structure 8 arerotated rigidly and stably. In addition, the rotor 7 and the impellerstructure 8 are rotated rigidly and stably without producing aneccentric effect, thereby enhancing the generating effect of thegenerating device.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A generating device, comprising: a wheel rim; a coil unit mounted onthe wheel rim; a rotor mounted in the coil unit; and an impellerstructure mounted on an end of the rotor to rotate therewith.
 2. Thegenerating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the impellerstructure is provided with a plurality of blades.
 3. The generatingdevice in accordance with claim 2, wherein the blades of the impellerstructure are arranged in a radiating manner.
 4. The generating devicein accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the blades of the impellerstructure is substantially arc-shaped.
 5. The generating device inaccordance with claim 2, wherein each of the blades of the impellerstructure has a distal end formed with a wind shear edge.
 6. Thegenerating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rotor and theimpeller structure are co-axial with the wheel rim.
 7. The generatingdevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein the coil unit is fixedlymounted on a central portion of the wheel rim.
 8. The generating devicein accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lightemitting members each mounted on the wheel rim and each electricallyconnected to the coil unit.
 9. The generating device in accordance withclaim 1, wherein when the wheel rim is rotated, the coil unit is rotatedwith the wheel rim synchronously, while the rotor and the impellerstructure are driven to rotate by the coil unit and are not rotated withthe wheel rim synchronously due to an eddy resistance effect of a windpower, thereby producing a velocity differential between the coil unitand the rotor.
 10. The generating device in accordance with claim 9,wherein the coil unit and the rotor are rotated at different velocities,so that the coil unit produces a magnetic variation between the coilunit and the rotor to provide a generating effect.